Fire protection for paper rolls



July 19, 1966 J. c. DAVIS 3,261,460

FIRE PROTECTION FOR PAPER ROLLS Flleo June 29 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ALUMINUM FOIL] '2 jxlll! ulxmflfilulunx in u LINER BOARD INVENTOR. J.C. DAVIS A TTORNEVS July 19, 1966 .1. c. DAVIS FIRE PROTECTION FOR PAPER ROLLS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filea June 29. 1964 INVENTOR. J. C. DAVIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,261,460 FIRE PROTECTION FOR PAPER ROLLS John C. Davis, Western Springs, Ill., assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed June 29, 1964, Ser. No. 378,505 Claims. (Cl. 206-59) This invention relates to method and means for protecting paper rolls against fire and/or water damage.

The recent advent of storing rolls of paper in a poker chip fashion, i.e., on end and on top of one another, in high bay roll storage areas has created a fire hazard. The stacking of cylinders on end in tiers creates a chimney in the open are-as between adjacent rolls. When a fire starts in a stack of paper rolls, for example due to welding activities or spontaneous combustion, the chirnneys create blowtoroh effects resulting in a fire which is uncontrollable by normal sprinkler coverage. Most of such fires have caused total damage to the building as Well as the contents. The sprinkler system is handicapped in a situation where the fire begins at the bottom of the stack due to the rolls of paper on top of the stack absorbing water as Well as blocking the spray. Even where some of the paper is undamaged by the fire, the resulting water damage can still cause a total loss.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a method for protecting paper rolls against fire and/or water damage. Another object of the invent-ion is to provide an inexpensive fireproof or fire-retarding belly wrapper. A further object of the invention is to reduce the possibility of fires by minimizing the possibilities of spontaneous combustion. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a fireretarding, waterproof wrapper for paper rolls. A still further object of the invention is to protect paper rolls against abuse, dirt, dust, and the like. Another object of the invention is to maintain the water content of a roll of paper substantially constant.

Other aspects, objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a study of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims.

In accordance with .the invention, there is provided a fire-retarding, waterproof belly wrapper for paper rolls comprising a laminated wrapping of paper and metal foil, the width of the metal foil being substantially equal to the height of the paper roll to be wrapped and the width of the paper being substantially greater than that of the metal foil to provide bare paper extending beyond each side of the metal foil.

In the drawings FIGURE 1 is a view of a belly wrapper in accordance with the intention; FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view along line 22 of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a roll of paper; FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of a roll of paper wrapped with a belly wrapper in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a plurality of rolls of paper stacked in poker chip iashion; and FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the arrangement of FIGURE 5.

Referring now to the drawings and to FIGURES 1 and 2 in particular, the belly wrapper is a laminated material comprising a layer 11 of paper and a layer 12 of metal foil. The metal foil layer '12 is narrower in width than the paper layer 11 and is bonded to the paper layer 11 so that the paper layer extends beyond the metal layer on both side-s. In a presently preferred embodiment the paper layer also extends beyond the metal foil layer on the leading edge. The size of the belly wrapper is selected so that the width of the metal foil layer 12 is substantially equal to the height of the roll of paper to be wrapped. The bare paper margins on each side of the laminate are approximately of equal width and are folded over the ends of the rolls. An

3,261,460 Patented July 19, 1966 end cap can then be glued to the thus folded paper margins. The bare paper provides greater acceptance of the glue and permits faster bonding operation. The thickness of paper layer 11 can be any suitablevalue but will generally be in the range of about 0.008 to about 0.02 inch. Preferably paper layer 1 1 has from about 25 to about pounds of paper per 1000 square feet. The thickness of the metal foil can be any suitable value but will generally be from about 0.0002 to about 0.01 inch. While any suitable metal foil can be utilized, aluminum foil is presently preferred.

In FIGURE 3 there is shown a roll of paper 13 comprising a hollow cylindrical core 14 having a long sheet of paper wrapped thereon. In FIGURE 4 there is shown the paper roll of FIGURE '3 Wrapped with the belly wrap of FIGURE 1. The width of aluminum foil layer 12 is equal to the height of roll 1-3. The bare paper margins are folded over each end of roll 13. The edges of end caps 15 can be glued to the folded paper Ina/rgins. Although end caps 15 can be a single layer of paper, in a preferred embodiment the end caps are a papermetal foil laminate, with the foil being on the side away from roll 13. The paper margins of layer 11 provide a surface which can be readily glued to the inner side of the end caps. On the larger rolls steel bands 16 can be utilized to maintain the belly wrapper in place and prevent the paper trom unrolling. While on smaller rolls an adhesive tape can be utilized, the steel bands are preferred as they hold the paper in place even when subject to high temperatures of a fire. The bare paper leading edge also provides a readily bendable surface when it is desired to glue the leading edge of the belly wrapper to the paper back .of the trailing edge. The bonding agent for sheets 11 and 12 as well as the glue for end caps 15 should be able to withstand high temperatures, preferably above 300 F. The length of the belly wrapper is sufiicient to go completely around the roll of paper one time. Generally, the belly wrapper is of sufficient length to provide a slight overlap, iior example from 1 to 10 inches or more.

In FIGURE 5 there is illustrated a stack of paper rolls having the fireproof belly wrapper in accordance with the invention. In modern high bay storage areas these stack-s are quite high and cover a large area. For example, in one such b-ay it is customary to stack five feet high rolls in six tiers for a total of thirty feet. The rolls are arrayed in each tier in a manner such as illustrated in FIGURE 6. The presence of the chimney effect is readily apparent.

The belly wrappers of the invention minimize contamination of the paper rolls with substances which could result in spontaneous combustion. In the event of a fire the fireproof belly wrappers of the invention reflect the heat from the fire, thus maintaining the paper rolls at lower temperatures, as well as protecting the paper rolls from the flames. When the sprinkler system is actuated, the belly wrappers of the invention repel the water, thus allowing water from the sprinkler to reach the base of the stack instead of being absorbed as well as protecting the rolls against water damage. The belly Wrappers of the invention also protect the rolls against abuse, dirt and dust, and also maintain the moisture content of the rolls of paper substantially constant.

Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the foregoing disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims to the invention.

I claim:

1. A fireproof, water repelling package comprising a cylindrical core; a sheet of paper Wound on said core to form a roll of paper; a belly wrapper wound once around said roll of paper, said belly wrapper comprising a layer of paper bonded to a layer of metal foil,

the width of said layer of metal foil being at least equal to the height of said roll of paper, the Width of said layer of paper being greater than the width of said layer of metal foil, the layer of paper extending beyond the layer of metal foil on both sides thereof to form a bare paper margin on each side, each paper margin being folded over the respective end of said roll of paper, said metal foil layer being on the surface of said paper layer opposite from said roll of paper, whereby said metal foil layer provides protection for said roll of paper against fire, a first end cap being bonded to the folded paper mangin atone end of said roll and a second end cap being bonded to the folded paper margin at the other end of said roll.

2. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said paper layer extends beyond said layer of metal foil to form a bare paper leading edge for said belly wrapper, and said leading edge is bonded to the paper back of the trailing edge of said belly wrapper.

3. A package in accordance with claim 1 further comprising at least one metal band fastened around the exterior of said belly wrapper.

4. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said 4% layer of paper Weighs from about to about 75 pounds per 1000 square feet and wherein said layer of metal foil is aluminum foil having a thickness in the range of about 0.0002 to about 0.01 inch.

5. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second end caps is a laminate of a layer of paper bonded to a layer of metal fioil With the layer of metal foil being the outer surface of said at least one end cap.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,212,180 8/1940 Murphy 206-59 2,982,457 5/ 1961 DAlelio 229- 3,038,811 6/ 1962 Reading 229-35 3,120,337 2/ 1964 'Dhomsen 22987 3,132,344 5/1964 Langdon 21 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

LOU IS G. MANOENE, Examiner.

W. T. DIXSON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FIREPROOF, WATER-REPELLING PACKAGE COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL CORE; A SHEET OF PAPER WOUND ON SAID CORE TO FORM A ROLL OF PAPER; A BELLY WRAPPER WOUND ONCE AROUND SAID ROLL OF PAPER, SAID BELLY WRAPPER COMPRIING A LAYER OF PAPER BONDED TO A LAYER OF METAL FOIL, THE WIDTH OF SAID LAYER OF METAL FOIL BEING AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE HEIGHT OF SAID ROLL OF PAPER, THE WIDTH OF SAID LAYER OF PAPER BEING GREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF SAID LAYER OF METAL FOIL, THE LAYER OF PAPER EXTENDING BEYOND THE LAYER OF METAL FOIL ON BOTH SIDES THEREOF TO FORM A BARE PAPER MARGIN ONE EACH SIDE, EACH PAPER MARGIN BEING FOLDED OVER THE RESPECTIVE END OF SAID ROLL OF PAPER, SAID METAL FOIL LAYER ON THE SURFACE OF SAID PAPER 